According to the report on the website of the Voice of Germany on May 14, after the US government announced that it would block Chinese electric vehicles and other products with high tariffs, the European side took a cautious attitude. German Chancellor Schultz pointed out that on this issue, Europe faces different problems from North America.

After the US government announced on the 14th that the tariff on electric vehicles imported from China would be adjusted to 100%, the European side tended to be cautious. Different from the US government, German Prime Minister Schultz said on the 14th that the investigation results of the European Commission (anti subsidy for Chinese electric vehicles) had not been released, so he could not make a final statement on this.

"What I want to point out is that at least 50% of the electric vehicles imported from China now come from western brands, which are produced in China and then imported into Europe." Schultz said, "This may be different from other countries and North America on this issue.". He pointed out that it should also not be forgotten that European manufacturers are successfully selling their cars in the Chinese market.

The Swedish Prime Minister Christson also expressed his opposition to the EU's imposition of punitive tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles.

When asked whether the EU should follow the example of the US government, he said: "It is a silly idea that we do not want to disrupt global trade." He said that for import and export powers such as Germany and Sweden, it is not a good idea to take punitive tariffs as a solution.

The European Commission reacted cautiously to the United States' practice of significantly increasing import tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles. A spokesman of the European Commission said in Brussels on the 14th that the European Commission had taken note of the decision of the United States and was evaluating the possible impact of the decision on the EU.

In addition, it was reported on the VOA radio website on May 15 that Italian Economy Minister Giancarlo Jorgetti said on May 14 that finance ministers of the Group of Seven (G7), which is composed of seven industrialized countries, will meet in Italy next week to discuss the risks of global trade fragmentation.

US President Biden announced on the 14th that he would significantly raise tariffs on a series of Chinese products exported to the United States, not only maintaining the tariffs imposed on China by former President Donald Trump, but also imposing high tariffs on many other types of Chinese products exported to the United States.

Jorgetti said in an interview with the media in Milan on the 14th that these tariffs imposed by the United States were "very severe".

Italy is the rotating presidency of the G7 this year. The G7 Finance Ministers' Meeting will be held in the small town of Stresa in northern Italy from May 24 to 25. Jorgetti is responsible for presiding over the meeting during the meeting.

He said: "With the latest action of the United States, we will discuss the issue of global trade fragmentation at the meeting in Streisa. The United States government has shown its cards to China and taken very tough measures."

"The world we know is coming to an end," he added, "which reflects geopolitical tensions." Jorgetti also said that Europe still needs to play its role in the changing situation. (Refer to Message Network)